perspectives

Mental Health Australia has been working with the National Mental Health Commission to further develop a new cohort of consumer and carer mental health leaders. The National Future Leaders in Mental Health Project offered an individual mentoring and leadership development program and opportunities for participants to contribute to the National Mental Health Commission’s work and national forums.

Perspectives Newsletter - March/April 2015. Children living with chronic illness often have to manage symptoms and ongoing treatments that affect their health and lifestyle. Children and young people with chronic illness are also more likely to develop social, behavioural or mental health problems. However, some families feel they grow from the experience, with an ability to adjust in healthy ways – this is known as family resilience.

Perspectives Newsletter - March/April 2015. When it comes to research about suicide prevention, we know a lot. What we do not do well is implement what we already know. Susan Murray from Suicide Prevention Australia argues that all too often we just ask more research questions.

Perspectives Newsletter - March/April 2015. These days, there are many more people working in the mental health space. We have seen a growth of psychologists doing work that was once the bastion of mental health nurses, while social workers and occupational therapists run therapeutic groups. We have community mental health teams made up of mental health nurses and allied health professionals, which once would have been all mental health nurses. With all this, are mental health nurses still necessary?

Perspectives Newsletter - March/April 2015. Early intervention is critical to the treatment of an eating disorder. Under the current system, in any given year, the majority of people with an eating disorder receive no treatment specifically for their condition. For those who receive ‘treatment as usual’, it is often expensive and ineffective.

Perspectives Newsletter - March/April 2015. There was a strong sense of unity a month ago when representatives from across the mental health sector met with parliamentarians en masse for a day of advocacy surrounding mental health. Rather than speaking solely about local issues, representatives presented a cohesive message, united as one voice, calling for change in the way we approach the mental health system. The delegates included leaders from mental health organisations, as well as consumer and carers. They presented three key messages to forty-seven Members and Senators from across the political spectrum, asking for clarity on the direction of mental health in Australia.

Welcome to the March/April edition of Perspectives, an online magazine where we present ideas, essays, and articles about what is happening in the mental health space.

Perspectives Newsletter - December 2014. What are the experiences of Australians who have attempted suicide? Much of the research into suicide and suicide prevention has focused on expert opinion, quantitative studies, or data from other countries. There is a gap in the literature regarding the exploration of the stories of Australians who attempt suicide and how such lived experience can inform improvements to our suicide prevention efforts.

Perspectives Newsletter - December 2014. Many organisations have a growing awareness of the important role that inclusive practice plays in the efficacy of their mental health and suicide prevention initiatives. There is widespread enthusiasm for developing services that can respond deliberately to a diversity of bodies, genders, sexualities, and relationships. In this context, understanding the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex ( LGBTI ) people becomes critical to positive health outcomes.

Perspectives Newsletter - December 2014. Greater understanding of the facts about mental health and eating disorders leads not only to a more aware and accepting community, but also improves prevention, early identification and help-seeking. However research indicates that there are generally low levels of mental health literacy in the community in relation to eating disorders. A new video has been released that highlights key facts about eating disorders, dispels misconceptions and encourages help seeking.